comstock



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. E. D. COMSTOCK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING BOOKS AND MAUSCRIPTS.

, Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 56,184, dated July 10, 1866.

To all lwhom 'it may concern:

Beit known that I, J. E. D. OoMsrooK, of Brooklyn, in the countyr of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Device for keeping a Book open and ones place on the pages thereof; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication.

My invention consists in the employment or use of a system of cross-levers, sometimes called lazytongs,7 in combination with a clip or clamp and a horizontal strip (one or more) for providing a new article of stationary, which I term a place-keeper and book and manuscript holder.77

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of my device, showing its appli- Y cation to a book or'manuscript. Fig. 2 is an end or side view of the same.

A designates a clamp or clip, which in the present instance is made of a single piece of wire in this way: A bow, c, is iirst made; then the wire is carried down a certain distance and a ring or the like, b, is formed in such a manner as to constitute one leaf of the clip; the Wire is then carried up and one or more coils,'c, made to constitute a spring for keeping the leaves pressed together; it is then carried down and another ring or the like, b, made, which constitutes the other leaf of the clip; it is then carried up on the other side of the coils c and terminates in a bow, a. This will be understood by reference to the two figures of the drawings. Across the upper leaf, b, of this clip a strip of metal, c, is secured, and to this strip c the two upper levers of the lazytongs B are secured. ,In the present instance the mode of securing them thereto is by a bolt, f, having a head, g, which is thrust through a slot, h, in each end of the levers and turned round in an opposite direction to the length of the slot to secure the levers. This mode of fastening enables the clip to be quickly separated from the lazy-tongs whenever it is Vdesired to use the clip as a device for holding memorandums, letters, &c. Any other proper means for holding together the clip and the lazy-tongs may be adopted at pleasure.

The lower ends of the lazy-tongs are secured in a manner similar to the upper ends, or in any suitable manner, to a horizontal strip of metal or wood, C, which may carry a knob, I, by which to operate the lazy-tongs. This horizontal strip C has` an extension-strip, C', attached to it, which can be folded in or thrown out, so as, in its latter position., to extend across on the opposite page of the book or manuscript.

Another horizontal strip of' metal or wood, D, similar to the strip C, is secured to the upper leaf of theclip, which strip has also an extensioirstrip, D', operating in a manner similar to the strip C and answering alike purpose. Y

The manner of using the device is to clasp a sufficient number of the leaves of the book at the top to produce a good holding-body, and at a point which will allow of the strips C D or the extension-strips G and D extending` across on the opposite side of the` hook, and thus keep it open, as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. l, where the extension-strips are shown as extended across the side of the book opposite to that where the clip is located.

I intend to use the clip A with the strip D, and sometimes D', attached to it separately from the lazy-tongs, merely as a means for -keeping the book open, and with or without construction described, as many other kinds of clips (the ordinaryone representing aladys hand, for instance) may be made to answer the purpose for the combination.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the lazy-tongs B with the clip A., or its equivalent, and strips C D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The extension-strips C and D', in combination with the strips C D and the lazy-tongs B, substantiallyv as specified.

3. The combination of the clip A and strip D, substantially as described.

4. The combina-tion of the clip A, lazy-tongs B, and strip C, substantilly as specified.

5. The clip A, when constructed in the inanner shown and deseibed, being in itself a clip of a new construction.

J. E. D. GOMSTOCK.

Witnesses:

DARIUs MEAD, WM. A. BROWN. 

